IABC - International Association of Business Communication, Wellington, New Zealand

March event: postponed due to earthquake

Due to the Christchurch earthquake, our event on “communicating change during an earthquake: lessons for Wellington” has been postponed. We’ll be liaising with Diane Keenan, communications manager for Christchurch City Council, to reschedule the event in a few months’ time.

Last September’s Christchurch earthquake had a massive impact on citizens and businesses, costing an estimated $4b. A state of emergency was in place for nearly a week in some parts of the city and many historic buildings and houses have been demolished, with some people still waiting for certainty on their housing. Despite the inevitable issues that have arisen, ninety percent of ratepayers believe the Council managed the earthquake well. Diane Keenan, Head of Communications for Christchurch City Council’s Communications department, played a key role in the earthquake, initially working up to 20 hours a day. She will share her experience of the earthquake and the lessons for us as we wait for Wellington’s “big one”. We will also hold our AGM at 5.15pm sharp, where the 2011 board will be elected and the outgoing Treasurer will present the 2010 audited accounts. Date: Thursday, 10 March 2011 Time: 5.15-7.15pm Venue: Turnbull House, Bowen St Wellington Fee: Free for members, $20 for non-members

Watch out for our first event for next year (last week of February - date coming soon) that will be combined with the 2011 AGM.  Nominations are now open for Board members for 2011 (close 19 February).

If you are a member of IABC Wellington, you are able to nominate or get nominated to our Board for 2011. Nominations must be received by 19 February 2011.

To nominate someone for the Board, please complete the IABC Wellington Board Nomination Form 2011 including the signatures of your nominator and seconder, scan and return to admin@iabcwellington.co.nz.

And yes, the word “AGM” tends to provoke groans, but organisations like IABC Wellington cannot operate without the group of volunteers who make it all happen. It is a commitment, but also lots of fun.

Information about the roles on the Board is available on the Job descriptions page or you can talk to any of the current Board members.

Don’t forget, if you would like to be more involved but can’t make the significant time commitment involved as a board member, there is also an opportunity to register your interest in a special project volunteer role.

You can download the nomination form here.

Join us for a pre-Christmas knees up at Wellington’s famous Backbencher pub, where ‘The Nation’ presenter Sean Plunkett will once again be our special end of year speaker.

Fresh from another fruitful year of political debate, investigations and interviews, Sean will download his thoughts on the eventful year that was 2010.

Date: Wednesday, 1 December

Time: 5.15pm

Venue: The Backbencher pub, Moleworth St (upstairs bar)

Price: FREE to IABC members, $20 to non-members (non-members pay at the door)

Please let us know ASAP if you will be able to attend. There will be free drinks and nibbles until the money runs out, so don’t be late….

Click here to register

Senate Communications is looking for a contractor to help a client in a communications advisor role.  They need someone extremely energetic, resilient and smart who will do well building effective relationships with a wide range of people, be great at listening to people’s needs and concerns, yet still keep a big programme of work ticking along efficiently.  The person will need to be a clean writer, good with the news media, comfortable with social media and online channels, and not afraid of working on tricky issues.

It’s likely to be a four or five day a week job, for at least the next year.  Times and terms will be discussed with the right person.

If this sounds like you, please call Tracey Bridges for a chat (04 499 6536), or send your vital details to tracey@senatecommunications.co.nz, by 22 October.

Please pass this on to anyone else you think might be interested.

Join us for an exciting event exploring the future of social media and how we communications professionals should keep up with David Farrar, writer of Kiwiblog.co.nz, commentator and social media aficionado. In this session, David will share tips for using social media effectively; explore social media platforms of the future; and provide studies of organisations that have achieved great social media success, as well as massive blunders– and the lessons for us.

When David started Kiwiblog, it was one of New Zealand’s first established blogs, and it continues to remain current and a leader of the NZ blogosphere, using new digital platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, You Tube and Four Square – a location based service. He is a regular commentator on four radio shows and occasional TV commentator. He’s also a director of Curia Market Research, a specialist polling and public policy research company. David is also a former Vice-President of Internet New Zealand, chairs their policy advisory group and is a director of the .nz Domain Name Commission which regulates the .nz name space.

Date: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Time: 5.15pm
Location: Turnbull House, Bowen Street
Cost: $20 for IABC members. $50 for non-members, who should pay at the door.

Drinks and nibbles will be served before and after the panel discussion, with time for networking after the discussion.

Click here to register

Registrations close at 5pm, Monday 1 November 2010.